The following is from Celisa Calacal at Alternet:
News headlines in 2017 were primarily dominated by coverage of President Donald Trump’s administration and tense party politics. But while most the attention was focused on the president’s antics, officers in police departments around the country killed over 1,000 civilians.
According to the database Mapping Police Violence, police have killed 1,129 people this year in the U.S., which was similar to the number of killings in previous years. According to the Washington Post’s police shooting tracker, officers fatally shot 976 people this year. In 2016, police shot and killed 963 people, and in 2015, officers fatally shot 995 people. Black people were disproportionately affected, as they made up 25 percent of those killed, despite making up only 13 percent of the population. Sixty-eight of those killed by police this year were unarmed.
This is inexcusable, and it doesn't happen in any other developed nation. I am especially appalled at the 68 unarmed individuals killed by police. I can't believe there wasn't a non-lethal way to deal with those individuals. But even if all of the individuals killed by police were armed, it's still too many. Why are so many people being killed by the police in our society?
The main reason is the easy access to guns in our society, but that's not the only reason. Other factors are racism and bigotry in our criminal justice institutions, poor leadership and oversight of too many departments, and misguided training that teaches police to shoot too quickly, and a justice system that doesn't punish police for shooting unarmed citizens unnecessarily.
This is a serious problem -- and it needs to be fixed, not excused.
This is Auralumin again (not trying to be anonymous).
ReplyDeleteWait, so the main reason police are shooting people is easy access to guns? Are you trying to say these people shot by police were of the law abiding, committing no crimes types? What law would you suggest that criminals will follow but not infringe on law abiding people? Felons already can not legally own guns. Background checks are already required. Maybe you think the police should be disarmed too? You mentioned the race thing, stating black people are disproportionately affected. I wish it were not true, however black people disproportionately commit violent crime. I wish it was not, but it is true. Trying to solve a societal issue by disarming the public will only create worse problems. Gives the advantage to the wrong people, criminals and government. People still have a need to defend themselves. We have not evolved as a country (or planet) to an extent that the ability to defend ones self is not necessary (including from governments). I agree that society has a long way to go and much is needed to be done, but taking away a tool (used for good and bad) will not fix what needs to be fixed. Why should law abiding people be denied a constitutional right becouse of law breakers?
Again, What law would you suggest that criminals will follow but not infringe on law abiding people? You told me you do not want to ban guns, what DO you want?
Your rant is racist and ridiculous -- and I have not ever called for banning guns or denying the right to own a gun to law-abiding citizens. Also, if we only pass laws that criminals will follow, then we'll have no laws at all.
DeleteAuralumin again.
ReplyDeleteHi Ted, You brought up the black issue, I did not. How am I being a racist? Can you define racism for me? Maybe your definition is different from mine?
Racist: (N) a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.
or maybe
A person who believes a particular race is superior to others
What exactly did I say that was racist? I said "black people disproportionately commit violent crime" which is true is it not? I do not like it, but it's true. I did NOT say because people are black that they commit more violent crimes. Deflecting is what I think you are doing.
What gun laws to you suggest would work? What part was ridiculous? We are talking Constitutional rights here. Laws that infringe on the Constitution are my issue here. Do you have any suggestions? Do you have any answers to my may questions to you? Do you have an argument? Do you want a debate or just do some name calling? I believe you ARE calling for banning guns and are being dishonest about it. I have stated why I believe that, Prove me wrong.
People who make racist comments are racists -- regardless of what they say they are or are not.
Delete